“Although these findings require further validation, continued efforts to minimize the use of blood products in patients with RCC are essential,” the authors concluded.

Of the 1159 patients, 198 (17.1%) received a PBT. The median follow-up was 63.2 months.

The investigators also looked at whether the association between PBT and prognosis remains significant when examined among the 582 patients in the PN group, of whom 87 (14.9%) required PBT. After controlling for patient and tumor-related variables, PBT recipients had a significant 5.9- and 5.8-fold increased risk of metastatic progression and cancer-related death, respectively, compared with patients who did not receive a PBT.